86 FLOWERS OF GARDEN AND GREENHOUSE 
allowed to each cutting, and of these, when inserted, only one joint 
should be above ground. Put them in so that a batch may be covered 
with a hand-glass, and keep moist. They will be strong plants in 
autumn, when they should be planted out. 
Description of Plate 41 exhibits the upper portion of L.fvlgem with 
Plates. some of its colour-variations; fig. 1 being a section of 
the flower. 
Plate 42 shows a similar portion of L. coronaria, slightly reduced 
in size, with the white-flowered form. Fig. 1, a seedling; 2, a section 
through flower; 3, the seed-capsule with the mouth split into five 
strong teeth; 4, a section through the same, showing the stalked seeds; 
5, a seed of the natural size, and the same enormously enlarged, to show 
form and sculpture. 
Among other plants of the Order Cartophylleas cultivated in 
gardens we may briefly mention the genera Saponaria and Cerastium,. 
Saponaria (Latin, sapo, soap; a decoction of the plant having 
formerly been used as soap). A genus of annuals and perennials 
differing from Silene and Lychnis , chiefly in having only two styles. 
There are about thirty species distributed over Southern Europe and 
temperate Asia. The best known of these are 8. caLabrica, a hardy 
annual, from Calabria (1830), with erect, fork-branched stems (6 to 12 
inches), and beautiful rosy flowers, produced solitarily from the axils. 
It flowers in August. 8. ccespitosa and 8. lutea are dwarf species from 
3 to 6 inches high; the former with rosy, the latter with yellow flowers. 
They are perennials, bloom from June to August, and are very suitable 
for rockwork ; so also is 8. ocymoides, the Rock Soapwort, with red or 
pink flowers in bundles. This species is a trailer of perennial duration, 
and blooms from May to August. 8. officinalis, the Common Soapwort, 
or Bouncing Bet, is a Continental plant that has been naturalised in this 
country for centuries. It has a straight stem from 1 to 3 feet in height, 
and large white or lilac flowers (1 inch diameter). There are several 
varieties, including a double form ; one of these, var. hybrida, has all the 
petals joined. The cultivation of all these species is unaccompanied by 
difficulty, and they may be treated as directed for Lychnis. 
Cerastium (Greek, keros, a horn, from the form of the seed-vessels). 
A genus of about forty downy herbs, with small leaves and white 
flowers. Eight of the species are native weeds, not suited for horti¬ 
cultural purposes. That most frequently grown is C. tomentomm, a very 
downy evergreen, introduced from the Continent about two hundred 
and fifty years ago, and largely used for edgings to beds and borders. It 
